W♥M (Archive)

Wizard World Minneapolis - MOA Kickoff event (30 Apr 2015)

Wizard World Minneapolis Details Minneapolis Convention Center Friday, May 1, 3-8 p.m. Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, May 3, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Guests • WWE® Divas The Bella Twins ™ • Gillian Anderson (The X-Files, Princess Mononoke) • Karl Urban (Star Trek, Dredd, Lord of the Rings) • Brent Spiner (Star Trek: The Next Generation) • James & Oliver Phelps (Harry Potter) • Jason Mewes (Jay and Silent Bob) • Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who) • Kristy Swanson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) • Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series) • Finn Wittrock (American Horror Story) • Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy) • Kevin Sorbo (Hercules) • Neal Adams (Eisner Award Hall of Fame Artist) • Phil Ortiz (Animator: The Simpsons) • Kevin Smith (Jay and Silent Bob) The full guest list, event times, panels and programming lists and other show info is linked at wizardworld.com Read More Wizard World Minneapolis We are very excited to cover Wizard World Minneapolis again, now in its second year at Minneapolis Convention Center, in Minneapolis. … Peelander-Z Superhero Japanese punk band Peelander-Z is currently on tour in support of their latest album, Metalander-Z, stopping by the Turf Club in St Paul last night, September 19th. …

Wizard World Minneapolis officially began its pop culture weekend takeover last night, with a kickoff event held last night at the rotunda in the Mall of America.  In addition to a trivia contest for passes and prizes, celebrity guests Michael Rooker, Kristy Swanson, Jason Mewes, and artist Arthur Suydam.

The contests and Q+ A were moderated by on-air talent from the local CW station, who were also showing off a car adorned with Flash illustrations, that is planned to be given away later this fall.  Additionally, a local superhero collective and a few fans dressed up to show off some cosplay for the attending fans.

Michael Rooker

Michael Rooker was by far, the most animated of the group, arriving late to the proceedings after a last minute coffee run, but more than forgiven by the loyal fans.  When asked about his favorite role, he pointed to the recent Stan Lee Cameo School 2 min. spot for Audi, which he said was a lot of fun, and paid him the most per on-screen second, in his career.

Kristy Swanson

Kristy Swanson was asked what her reaction was when first hearing Buffy was to be optioned as a TV series, and she was first confused if it would be a mini-series or ongoing, then glad that the character continued to develop in a different format.

Jason Mewes

Jason Mewes revealed that Kevin Smith was a little under the weather, which is why he didn’t make it town earlier in the week, and that they would like to shoot Mallrats 2 in the same Eden Prairie Center Mall, but that state filming tax incentives, would likely make Smith scout elsewhere.  Both Mewes and Mallrats co-star Rooker reveled in being in a Minnesota mall again, some 20 years later.

Arthur Suydam

Arthur Suydam is probably best recently known for his Marvel Zombies work, but when asked about his early artistic influences, revealed he attended a NYC arts school than emphasized the Renaissance master painters and had their students learn by copying the great works.

A select lucky few in the crowd got Wizard World weekend passes and tickets to an Avengers: Age of Ultron screening, happening immediately after the panel—Wizard World Minneapolis opens its doors today.

For music fans, one of Vu’s favorites, the colorful and fun Peelander-Z plays the Saturday After Party at Pourhouse in downtown Minneapolis, free before 10:30 to anyone with a Wizard wristband.

Wizard World Minneapolis - MOA Kickoff event (Day 0) (30 Apr 2015) left to right: Kristy Swanson, Michael Rooker, Arthur Suydam, and Jason Mewes

john ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Minneapolis: May 1, 2015

There are just too many good shows taking place this May 1st, 2015, in the Minneapolis/St Paul area. I've broken down some of the good ones.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Hurray For The Riff Raff Hurray For The Riff Raff just released their latest, Small Town Heroes, on ATO. Really good Cajun Sound. I saw them at the Mojo BBQ, two or three years ago and have always been impressed. ...

HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF
at Cedar Cultural Center
Friday 05/01/15, 7pm ($15/Sold Out)
thecedar.org

We caught Alynda Lee Segarra (aka Hurray for the Riff Raff) at Shakopee in 2014 and described her show as:

Segarra filled out her songs with a four-piece band, which included a fiddle and upright bass to accompany her own banjo playing. Highlights included one of the first songs she’d written on banjo, ‘Here It Comes’, ‘End of the Line’ which featured Segarra on harmonica, and ‘Little Black Star’, from her previous album, that became a crowd clap and sing-a-long.

Canadian country singer and visual artist Daniel Romano set to open this sold out Minneapolis show.

Tour dates:

04/25/15 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall Of Williamsburg
04/28/15 Detroit, MI Shelter
04/29/15 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
04/30/15 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon
05/01/15 Minneapolis, MN Cedar Cultural Center
05/03/15 St. Louis, MO Sheldon Concert Hall
05/04/15 Tulsa, OK The Vanguard
05/05/15 Little Rock, AR South On Main
05/28/15 Memphis, TN Levitt Shell
05/29/15 Louisville, KY Headliners Music Hall
05/30/15 Nelsonville Music Festival
05/31/15 Nelsonville Music Festival
06/02/15 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom
06/03/15 Buffalo, NY Ninth Ward At Babeville
06/04/15 Burlington, VT Signal Kitchen
06/06/15 Providence, RI Columbus Theater
06/07/15 Mountain Jam Festival
06/09/15 Three Rivers Arts Festival
06/10/15 Annapolis, MD Rams Head On Stage
06/12/15 Friday Cheers
06/14/15 Bonnaroo Music
06/19/15 Bayou Boogaloo
06/26/15 Big Barrel Country Music Festival
08/08/15 Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival

Read More The Turbo Fruits The Turbo Fruits/Bad Cop Split 7" came out on Jeffery Drag Records last week, July 31st. The vinyl will be limited to 300 clear vinyl, as well as a super limited 100 copies on clear/lavender vinyl ... Eternal Summers Starting the Splatter show was Eternal Summers, a lo-fi/garage rock band from Virginia. The trio, lead by singer/guitarist Nicole Yun ...

TURBO FRUITS w/ Eternal Summers
at Fallout Art Center
Friday 05/01/15 ($??)
facebook.com/falloutminneapolis

I've never been to the Fallout Art Center before, but in addition to art displays, they host live concerts as well. Nashville's Turbo Fruits will be stopping by the art center to showoff tracks from their latest album No Control. Spin described the album as "a solid 11-track collection of crisp, hook-filled garage-pop songs about love, drugs, death and other rock’n’roll..." The album came out this week, April 20th on all formats... and for the pre-orders, a very special 4/20 surprise: rolling papers.

Come to the Fallout Art Center this Friday to discovery why The Black Keys' Patrick Carney called "one of my favorite bands from Nashville."

We previously saw Eternal Summers in St Paul with We Are Scientists and Surfer Blood and as headliner in Minneapolis in 2013. The lo-fi trio's new album is called Gold And Stone, and it's coming out June 2nd on Kanine Records.

UPDATE: The Turbo Fruits/Eternal Summers show will also be at the 7th Street Entry at 11pm! Additional details over at first-avenue.com.

Tour dates:

Apr 25 - Brick & Mortar - San Francisco, CA *
Apr 28 - Mississippi Studios - Portland, OR *
Apr 29 - Sunset Tavern - Seattle, WA *
May 1 - Fallout Art Center - Minneapolis, MN *
May 1 - 7th Street Entry (11pm) - Minneapolis, MN *
May 2 - Cactus Club - Milwaukee, WI *
May 3 - Double Door - Chicago, IL *
May 4 - Huma Room @ Hop Cat - Detroit, MI *
May 5 – Rumba Cafe – Columbus, OH
May 6 - Happy Dog - Cleveland, OH
May 7 - Smiling Moose - Pittsburgh, PA *
May 9 - Bill’s Bar (Radio BDC) - Boston, MA ^
May 10 - Rock & Roll Hotel - Washington, DC ^
May 11 – Music Hall – Brooklyn, NY ^
May 12 – Nanola – Malta, NY
May 14 - Boot & Saddle - Philadelphia, PA ^
May 15 – The Saint – Asbury Park, NJ ^
May 16 - Lizard Lounge - Lancaster, PA ^
June 20 - Happenin’ Fest - Birmingham, AL

* with Eternal Summers
^ with Surfer Blood

Read More Wizard World Don't forget that the second annual Wizard World Comic Con Minneapolis will be taking place May 1st and May 2nd (which is also Free Comic Book Day) and May 3rd. We had a fantastic time last year at the …

WIZARD WORLD MINNEAPOLIS
at Minneapolis Convention Center
Friday 05/01/15 ($35/$75 for three days)
wizardworld.com

We are very excited to cover Wizard World Minneapolis again, now in its second year at Minneapolis Convention Center, in Minneapolis.

The first show is this Friday and continues to Sunday. If you buy your tickets in advance, it's $75 for all three days, otherwise there is an extra $10 charge if you buy it at the door.

This year's big attraction are Star Trek/Dredd's Karl Urban (Sat & Sun), X-Files' Gillian Anderson (Sat & Sun), Harry Potter's James & Oliver Phelps (Sat & Sun), WWE's The Bella Twins (Sat).

For the complete Friday event listing, head over to wizardworld.com.

These are just the ones I'll likely attend (although I always end up shopping in the salesfloor most of the time):

Friday, May 1st
4:30–5:15PM Beyond the SHIELD, a conversation about Marvel's Agent of SHIELD (ROOM M100B)
Adam Wells and Mitra Nelson lead an in-depth conversation on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season two...

5:00–5:45PM Midnight Movies: Birth, Death And Afterlife (ROOM M100E)
Minneapolis-based filmmaker Dwayne Robinson moderates a panel discussion revealing the history and lore of midnight movies, including their fade into obscurity during the 90's and their ongoing resurgence in unexpected places. Panelists will include our friend Theresa Purcell of Trash Film Debauchery.

5:30-6:15PM Spotlight On Batman Beyond’s And Superman’s Dan Jurgens (ROOM M100B)
We saw Dan Jurgens' talk last year, this guy is simply amazing. He's drawn every major Marvel or DC character. Moderated by artist Gordon Purcell.

6:30-7:15PM How To Write Comics with Chris Claremont, Larry Hama, Michael Avon Oeming and Renee Witterstaetter (ROOM M100B)
These guys wrote some of my favorite Uncanny X-Men (Chris Claremont) and G.I. Joe (Larry Hama) stories. Also with "Powers" hot on the PlayStation network, it might be interesting to see what artist Michael Avon Oeming has to say.

There's also a costume event that I will likely check out... Also although it's listed in conjunction with Wizard World, the Kevin Smith Q&A session is a separate paid event at the State Theatre. I do not believe Kevin Smith will appear at the Minneapolis Convention Center, so this evening show is a must see for any fans of Clerks and Comic Book Men.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic